Table

ABSTRACT

A table suitable for use as a picnic or patio table is provided comprising a metal drum having integrally formed, annular ribs thereon, the drum being vertically disposed with one end resting upon a supporting surface. An extended-area top is provided having a central opening formed therein through which the upper end of the drum extends, the top being supported by the upper rib.

United States Patent 11 1 3,683,824 Weber 1451 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] TABLE 2,799,543 7/1957 Tomaselli ..'...'...108/50 X 72 I t I w 3,245,365 4/1966 Doherty ..108/144 I 1 M James w R R Hummg 3,289,612 12/1966 Mouw ..108/50 46750 3 424111 1/1969 Maslow 108/144 [22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1970 3,434,484 3/ 1969 Dilullo ..l08/50 107,825 9/1870 Shaut ..108/l51 [21] Appl 11442 2,864,510 12/1958 Sture ..220/85 3,007,756 11/1961 Page ..'.108/50 [52] US. Cl. ..l08/92, 108/150, 108/15'1,

108/96 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel [51] Int. Cl. ..A47b 13/00 Attorney-Hood, Gust, lrish & Lundy [58] Field ofSearch ..108/93,92, 96, 95, 101, 151,

108/106, 103, 107, 104,59, 108-110, 105, [57] ABSTRACT 50; 248/161 I A'table suitable for use as a picnic or patio table is provided comprising a metal drum having integrally [56] Refereces Cited formed annular ribs thereon, the drum being vertically dlsposed wlth one end resting upon a suppqrtmg UNITED STATES PATENTS surfagi. An cxteit ded-egeahton 1s firovuiled finvgngha centr openlng ormc t ereln t roug w 10 te 844,754 2/1907 Sardou et a1 ..108/105 upper end of the drum extendsnm top being 18/ PDfousflg ported by the upper ono ue 2,591,215

4/1952 Thiel ..l08/l04 7 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures WWW 15 m2 SHEET 1 [IF 3 PATENTEDAUGIS I972 A sum 2 0r 3 lE- LE WR TE WE N W S E M A IU l 3 4 4 O Q i \qi 8 (2 2 m V WWMHH I LIHWLH WWW ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMI l 5 I97 3.683.824 snmauf INVENTOR JAMES w. WEBER zs YWM AEEM LEJ 84 ATTOR N EYs TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to tables, and more particularly to a table wherein the top is supported on a barrel or drum.

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventional tables comprise a table top and a support therefor, the support generally comprising a plurality of legs or a central pedestal. One form of picnic or patio table includes a circular metal top with a metal leg structure, the top having a central hole formed therein for receiving an umbrella. Another form of picnic or patio table comprises a rectangular wooden top with elongated benches secured to the legs thereof. Both of these forms of tables are relatively costly. It is known to provide a small cocktail-type table by supporting a top on the upper end of a small barrel or keg. However, there is a need for a relatively inexpensive table suitable for use as a patio or picnic table, and particularly for use in play and camp grounds which can be assembled at the site and which has the paper height for use with conventional folding chairs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its simplest form, I have provided a table comprising a top formed of suitable material, such as hardboard, the top having a central opening-therein so that it may be placed over the upper end of a conventional metal drum standing vertically with one end thereof being supported upon the ground, the top resting upon and being supported by the upper rib of the drum. A conventional 55-gallon drum is approximately 33 inches in overall length and when it is positioned vertically with one end resting upon the ground the upper rib is approximately 22 to 23 inches above the ground, thus providing a suitable height for the table top to permit placing folding chairs therear'ound.

In its broader aspects, the invention provides a table comprising a tubular member having an axis, opposite ends, and a wall extending between the ends and coaxial with the axis, one of the ends being a support for the table with the axis thus extending vertically. An extended-area table top is provided having a planar upper surface, the top having an opening extending therethrough. The tubular member extends through the opening with the top being intermediate the opposite ends and with the upper surface being normal to the axis of the tubular member, and means are provided fo supporting the top on the tubular member.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved table of the picnic or patio variety characterized by its simplicity and relatively low cost.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side view, partly in cross-section, illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view showing a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein an enlarged top is supported by two metal drums;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view, partly in cross-section, illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein the table top is supported on a wooden or a simulated wood barrel or keg;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side, cross-sectional view, showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top view of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view showing yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side view, partly in crosssection, illustrating a modification of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a top view of a modification of the embodi ment of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary crosssectiona] view showing an adaptation of the modification of FIGS. 12 and 13 to form a multi-tier table.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the illustrated embodiment, generally indicated at 12, comprises a conventional metal drum l4 and a top 16 supported thereon. Drum 14 is essentially cylindrical, having an axis 18, opposite ends 20 and 22 and a side wall extending therebetween. Drum 14 is disposed with its axis 18 extending vertically and with its end 20 resting upon a supporting surface 26, such as the ground. Wall 24 of drum 14 has conventional annular ribs 28, 30 integrally formed thereon.

Top 16 is formed of suitable material, such as hardboard or plywood. In the illustrated embodiment, top 16 is shown as being octagonal in configuration, although it may equally advantageously have other configurations such as square or circular. Two tops 16 may advantageously be cut from a single 4-foot by 8- foot sheet of plywood.

Top 16 has a central, circular opening 32 formed therethrough having a diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of wall 24 of drum l4 and smaller than the outside diameter of ribs 28,30. Top 16 is positioned over the upper end 22 of drum 14, upper end 22 extending upwardly through opening 32 and the peripheral area of the bottom surface of top 16 adjacent opening 32 engaging and being supported by upper rib 30, top 16 thus being disposed parallel with supporting surface 26 and normal to axis 18.

' A conventional SS-gallon metal drum is approximately 35 inches in overall length, has an outside diameter of approximately 22-%ths inches, and ribs 28, 30 are approximately 10 to 11 inches from ends 20, 22

g respectively. It will thus be seen that with top 16 supported on the upper rib 30, the top will be disposed approximately 20 to 23 inches above the supporting surface 26, which is a desirable height for use with conventional folding chairs. It can further be seen that with the outside diameter of drum 14 being approximately 22- %th inches and with the top 16 being cut from a 4X6 foot sheet of hardboard or plywood, ample area is provided on the upper surface of top 16 surrounding the projecting portion of drum 14. In order to stabilize top 16 so it will not wobble, three equally spaced blocks 34 may be secured to the upper surface 36 of top 16 adjacent opening 32 either by suitable adhesives or by suitable screws 36. Blocks 34 may then be secured to wall 24 of drum 14 by suitable screws 38, as best seen in FIG. 3.

Drum 14 may have the top end 40 removed so the drum may be utilized as a trash receptacle. Alternatively, where the top end 40 of drum 14 has not been removed, a small central opening 42 may be formed therein for receiving an umbrella, as best seen in FIG. 2.

Referring now briefly to FIG. 4 in which like elements are indicated by like reference numerals, if it is desired to position top 16 at a higher elevation above the supporting surface 26, a suitable annular clamping ring 44 in the nature of a hose clamp may be attached to side wall 24 of drum 14 between the upper rib 30 and upper end 22 with top 16 resting thereon and being supported thereby. Another annular clamping ring 46 may then be attached to wall 24 of drum 14 above top 16 and engaging the upper surface 36 thereof stabilize to stabilized top 16.

Referring now briefly to FIG. 5, it will be seen that an elongated, rectangular top 16' may be provided having two spaced-apart openings 32' formed therein so the top 16' may be supported on two spaced-apart drums 14', as shown. Thus, top 16 may conveniently be formed from a 4 X 8-foot sheet of hardboard or plywood.

Referring briefly to FIG. 6, a wood or simulated wood barrel or keg 48 may be employed having an outwardly curved side wall 50 extending between its opposite ends 20, 22. Top 16 may then have a tapered central .opening 52 formed therein conforming to the curvature of side wall 50, opening 52 being larger than the outside diameter of barrel 48 at its upper end 22 and smaller than its maximum outside diameter at point 54 midway between its ends 20, 22. Thus, when top 16 is positioned over end 22, its tapered opening 52 will engage the curved sidewall 50 midway between upper end 22 and midpoint 54, thereby supporting top 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, an embodiment is shown wherein top 16 is formed of a plurality of separable metal or plastic segments, thus facilitating packaging and shipment of top 16 in knock-down form. Here, top 16 comprises a plurality of segments 56, each having side edges 58 which extend radially with respect to axis 16 of drum l4. Radially extending flanges 60 respectively depend from side edges 58. When assembled, side edges 58 and flanges 60 are arranged in abutting relationship and are secured together by suitable screws 62, thus holding top 16 in assembled relationship.

Flanges 60 have inner edges 64 which terminate adjacent opening 32 and bottom edges 66 adjacent inner edges 64 which engage and are supported by the top annular rib 30, as best seen in FIG. 7. It will be observed that the vertical height of flanges adjacent the inner ends 64 can be selected to position top 16 at the desired elevation above the supporting surface 26.

Referring now to FIG. 10, top 16 may be integrally formed of suitable sheet metal or plastic, and may have an annular flange 68 depending from its central opening 32. Flange 68 embraces sidewall 24 of drum 14 with its bottom edge 70 engaging and being supported by rib 30. Flange 68 may be secured to sidewall 24 by a plurality of radially spaced-apart setscrews 72.

Referring now to FIG. 11, in the case of any of the above-described embodiments of the invention, an inverted, cup-shaped member 74 formed of suitable material such as plastic or metal, may be provided positioned over upper end 22 of drum 14 with its bottom edge 70 engaging upper surface 36 of top 16. If desired, a conventional Lazy Susan tray 78 may be rotatably mounted on top of member 74, as at A.

It will be observed that all of the embodiments of the invention, with the exception of the embodiment of FIG. 6, utilize conventional metal drums, such as the drums in which commercial chemicals are shipped. Used drums of this type are commonly available at a relatively low cost. The tops 16 of the several embodiments can be readily and inexpensively fabricated and can be readily mounted on the drums at the use site with simple hand tools. It will be observed that all of the embodiments of the invention are characterized by their simplicity and ruggedness. Thus, the table of the invention particularly lends itself to use as a picnic table for play and campgrounds.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13 in which like elements are indicated by like reference numerals and similar elements by primed reference numerals, a plurality, shown as four, of equally radially spaced-apart slots 80 extend outwardly from opening 30' in top 16. Edges 82 which define opening 30' curvedly taper inwardly toward side wall 84 of barrel 14 from each slot 80 to the adjacent slot, thereby to provide tapered openings 86 between edges 82 and side wall 84 of barrel 14 which progressively decrease in width between one slot 80 and the next.

A plurality of support members 88, equal in number to the number of the slots 80, are provided. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the support members 88 has a plurality of vertically spaced-apart notches 90 formed therein. In assembling the table of FIGS. 12 and 13, each of the support members 88 is inserted through a respective slot 80 in top 16, corresponding notches v 90 are aligned with edges 82, bottom ends 92 of support members 88 are engaged with a rib, shown here as being rib 28, and then the support members 88 are moved radially in tapered openings 86 until they are wedged into engagement with side wall 84 and edges 82, as shown. Thus, engagement of the bottom ends 92 of support members 88 with rib 28 supports top 16, with the wedging engagement of the support members with the side wall 84 of barrel 14 and edges 82 provid ing the requisite stabilized support for top 16.

It will be seen that the provision of a plurality of vertically spaced-apart notches 90 in support members 88 affords selective adjustment of the height of top 16 above supporting surface 26. It will further be observed in FIG. 13 that the uppermost notch 90 is more closely spaced from the upper end 94 of support members 88 than the lowermost notch is spaced from the bottom end 92. This permits support members 88 to be reversed thereby to provide still greater flexability in generally corresponds to the spacing between ribs 28 and 30, which varies between 8y; inches and 9 inches in the case of a conventional drum. Support members 88 are preferably made of wood and in a specific embodiment, were 8-% inches in length, 1-% inches wide, and it inches thick with notches 90 being one-fourth inch deep. It will be readily apparent that support members 88 may be disposed above the upper rib 30 with bottom ends 92 in engagement therewith, thereby to provide a still greater range of adjustment of the height of top 16.

Referring now to FIG. 14 in which like elements are still indicated by like reference numerals, it will be seen that a multi-tiered table may be provided by the use of the notched supporting members 88. In the illustratedembodiment, three progressively smaller tops 16-1, 16-2 and 16-3 are provided, each having the slots 80 and tapered edges 82 of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13. Tops 16-1, 16-2 are mounted on lower support member 88-1 disposed between ribs 28, 30 with its bottom end engaging rib 28. THe upper top 16-3 is supported by block 88-2 having its bottom end 92 engaging rib 30. If desired for additional stability and/or permanence of the top heights after assembly, blocks 88 may be secured to side wall 84 of drum 14 by suitable screws 96.

It will be readily seen that the portion of top 16 which is cutout to form opening 32 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, or opening 32' of the embodiment of FIGS. 12-14, may be employed to cover the top of drum 40 (if the-drum has been opened at one end), or for a lazy susan, such as shown at 78 in FIG. 11. It will further be seen that by reason of the above-mentioned wedging action of support members 88 between side wall 84 of drum 14 and edges 82 of top 16, a top 16 may be supported on a smooth-sided, cylindrical drum having no ribs. The wedging action alone may provide the requisite support for the top, however support members 88 may be additionally secured to the side wall of such a smooth-sided drum by screws 96.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A table comprising: a barrelhaving an axis, op-

posite ends and a side wall extending between said ends and concentric with said axis, each of said ends having a diameter greater than one-half the overall axial length of said barrel, one of said ends being the sole support for said table with said axis extendingvertically, said side wall having an enlarged portion intermediate said ends and having a diameter greater than that of each of said ends; an extended area table top having a planar upper surface, said top having an opening extending therethrough, said barrel extending through said opening, said top being intermediate said opposite ends with said upper surface normal to said axis and being supported on said enlarged portion, a plurality of circuml fiifiiia ttfi'ifi'ifi s g gt 'tiatfis tig eififigliii the side wall of said barrel.

2. The table of claim 1 wherein each of said support members has at least one notch formed therein with the edge of said top which defines said top opening being seated therein.

3. The table of claim 2 wherein said top has a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart slots extending outwardly from said opening and respectively having segments of said edge extending therebetween whereby said support members may initially be respectively positioned in said slots and then rotated about said axis to positions in engagement with said side wall of said barrel, and with the respective edge segments seated in said notches.

4. The table of claim 3 wherein each of said edge segments tapers inwardly toward said side wall from one said slot to the next whereby said support members are wedged in said positions.

5. The table of claim 2 wherein each of said support members has a plurality of vertically spaced-apart notches formed therein thereby to provide for selective adjustment of the height of said top.

6. The table of claim 2 wherein each of said support members has a plurality of vertically spaced-apart notches formed therein, said edge of said top being seated in corresponding ones of said notches in said support members, and further comprising a second table top having an opening formed therein, the edge of said second top which defines said opening therein being seated in corresponding other notches in said support members and being in spaced, parallel relationship ship with said first-named top.

7. The table of claim 1 wherein said barrel has as annular rib thereon, said support members respectively having bottom ends engaging said rib. 

1. A table comprising: a barrel having an axis, opposite ends and a side wall extending between said ends and concentric with said axis, each of said ends having a diameter greater than onehalf the overall axial length of said barrel, one of said ends being the sole support for said table with said axis extending vertically, said side wall having an enlarged portion intermediate said ends and having a diameter greater than that of each of said ends; an extended area table top having a planar upper surface, said top having an opening extending therethrough, said barrel extending through said opening, said top being intermediate said opposite ends with said upper surface normal to said axis and being supported on said enlarged portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart support members respectively interposed between and engaging said top opening and the side wall of said barrel.
 2. The table of claim 1 wherein each of said support members has at least one notch formed therein with the edge of said top which defines said top opening being seated therein.
 3. The table of claim 2 wherein said top has a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart slots extending outwardly from said opening and respectively having segments of said edge extending therebetween whereby said support members may initially be respectively positioned in said slots and then rotated about said axis to positions in engagement with said side wall of said barrel, and with the respective edge segments seated in said notches.
 4. The table of claim 3 wherein each of said edge segments tapers inwardly toward said side wall from one said slot to the next whereby said support members are wedged in said positions.
 5. The table of claim 2 wherein each of said support members has a plurality of vertically spaced-apart notches formed therein thereby to provide for selective adjustment of the height of said top.
 6. The table of claim 2 wherein each of said support members has a plurality of vertically spaced-apart notches formed therein, said edge of said top being seated in corresponding ones of said notches in said support members, and further comprising a second table top having an opening formed therein, the edge of said second top which defines said opening therein being seated in corresponding other notches in said support members and being in spaced, parallel relationship ship with said first-named top.
 7. The table of claim 1 wherein said barrel has as annular rib thereon, said support members respectively having bottom ends engaging said rib. 